Relich takes over as new division head of English

Mark Munson, Staff Reporter

If one taught English for 34 years, wouldn’t one think it would be hard to keep growing as a teacher? If one does, don’t tell Wendy Relich, the new Division Head of English and Fine Arts. As she enters her 34th year of teaching and first as a division head, her main goal is to keep growing and pushing herself. This is why she jumped at the opportunity to become the division head here at Elk Grove. After 26 years as a teacher in Wisconsin and the last seven at Wheeling High School. Relich has an infectiously positive attitude that will help her as a division head.

“I think it’s this perpetual optimism that I have, that every day you’re going to go into classes and see wonderful things happening with kids,” Relich said.

Aside from her duties teaching second period American Literature, Relich will get to observe classrooms and conference with teachers as part of her administrative position. She likens herself to a facilitator,

“I help my teachers with the resources that they need so they can meet all of [the student’s] needs,” Relich said.

As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Relich fostered her love of teaching by tutoring students. This led her to go back and take education classes so she could start student teaching. While her love of teaching began in college, her passion for learning and being committed was kindled in high school. She was taking AP Calculus and was about ready to quit when her teacher, Mr. White, told her that “there are different ways to think and if you drop this class, you’re not going to learn another way of looking at the world.”

“It was very, very difficult but he was willing to make that connection with me and to help me be committed to learning and never giving up,” Relich said. Relich just goes to show, you learn something new every day.